Happy Birthday to Grandma Dunlap

Mom - Happy Birthday. Wish we could all sit down around a table and share some cake and ice cream with you and have the chance to sing Happy Birthday and tell you how much we love you. For today, however, we will be thankful for cyberspace and family blogs where we can share our best wishes!

I love Mom because
she is so appreciative of every little thing.
she is my enthusiastic supporter.
she taught me how to be a happy mom.
she understood the joy of a good shopping trip.
she made our childhood home happy and secure.
she knows how to keep a beautiful home.
she is a great cook and I stand in awe of the years that she put a great dinner on the table EVERY night.
she always took good care of herself and was the prettiest mom around...
she set the example of being involved in your children's education. We all wanted mom to be OUR room mother.
she makes wonderful friendships - Carmen Culotta, Elsie Hurst, Elsie Alger, Mary Palmer, Grace Tanaka, and so many others. People love mom.
she made our friends feel so comfortable in our home.
she loves dogs and we had some great pets because mom was so good about taking care of them.
she loved to garden and made the Hawaiian home a little garden paradise (with Burke's help).
she made the holidays so fun and I feel the desire to give that same joy to my children.
she makes thee best apple and lemon meringue pies.
she loves to hear the good news of others, especially that of her children and grandchildren.
she taught me how to cook and clean.
she sewed for us and made adorable clothes. I still remember some of the cute things she made in my teen years.
she taught us how to wait and anticipate good things.
I just love mom and appreciate every big and little thing she did to make my life so rich and joyful...every birthday party, every Easter basket, every Sunday dinner, every shopping trip, every moment when I felt loved, cared for, understood and worried over.
Thanks, Mom. I hope you have a terrific day.

Some Fun Videos

Don asked me to post a couple of videos...hope this isn't overload. :)

Playing with Dad

I went out of the room during lunch and when I came back, Will wanted to show me something.

I don't know where the blinking thing was coming from, but it was so funny!

Soren Christen Bennion - 3.5 Months

We just thought that we'd post some pictures of Soren that we took today. Thanks to Mom B. for the adorable outfit. We love it! Very handsome and very European.

Wendy's Birthday!!!

I was especially happy today...I thought it might be because it was Friday and then it hit me...it's January 23rd and it's Wendy Elise's birthday. Of all the great things that ever happened on the January 23rd's of all time, I contend that the best was that Wendy was born!
I love Wendy because...
She is so truly kind and gracious.
She is a fabulous mother,
She has a truckload of good sense.
She knows what really matters in life.
She is frugal.
She is the perfect wife for John.
She is intelligent and has interesting insights.
She is wise.
She is lovely and beautiful, but if she was ugly, I would still love her.
She is fun! She loves a good game and is competitive. She loves a good movie and will stay up well past her bedtime to enjoy one with the family.
She is a great example to the young women that she teaches at church.
She has a delicious sense of humor.
She is so good to the Bennions...all of them.
She is a good sport and puts up with the opinionated Bennions who are "seldom wrong, but never in doubt.
I adore her and count her as a friend and as one of my greatest blessings!

California PE Results

Last April I traveled to the bay area to take my professional licensing exam for the state of California. The test goes for two days. The first day is the national 8 hour exam. The following day two state specific exams are given (Principles of Engineering Surveying, and Seismic Principles). In addition there is a short ethics take home exam that is required. Four months later I received my results and found out that I had passed all test except for the Seismic Principles which I had missed the passing score by one point. Despite the setback I retook the Seismic principles in October in hopes of obtaining my first PE license. The California state Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (PELS) met the past 15th and 16th of January to determine the pass scores for last October’s Professional Engineering exam. An update had had been up for the past few weeks on the PELS website to explain the manner in which scores would be released following the adoption of the cut scores by the board. It is pretty common knowledge among test takers that you can actually find out if you passed a few days prior to receiving official notice in the mail by using the license lookup options connected to most state website. I, of course, had been checking the site religiously for the past few days in hopes of seeing my name listed but to no avail. When I got home today I found the letter in the mail and opened it knowing that I would have a notice telling me how close I had come without passing my exam because my name was not available that day on the website. To my immense surprise and joy I opened the following:

i'm moving

This weekend Jeremy and I are moving to another apartment in NY. I just took a photo with my camera phone of our current view. We now live on the far west side of Manhattan on 50th st. and when that plane did an emergency landing last week in the river, it passed right by our building and landed in the pictured river.

Past the river is New Jersey. Sometimes when I look out the window, I imagine how the Native Indians lived in Manhattan and New Jersey pre-settlers. You can kind of imagine them canoeing over to their neighbors and engaging in trade. Maybe they would see each others fires across the river.

I'm going to miss this view. Although our new apartment is bigger and with our new apartment we will face Central Park. So I guess instead of rivers, barges, cruise ships, the intrepid, I will get to know the changing face of the leaves, flowers, the roller bladers, the children chasing squirrels.

Time for changes...

Thank*You!

Thanks to everyone for your kind and thoughtful words on the blog.....
I had a wonderful day....including John, Wendy & Fam--the singing telegram.

And this favorite of mine....Rob singing me a solo 'Happy Birthday!' ;) Thanks for sharing the Bennion love! Love you all and look forward to adding another couple of Bennions to the mix (Jocelyn & J&W Baby Boy Bennion)! :)

Happy Birthday #26 Ann!!!

I like Ann because:
She is as beautiful inside as she is on the outside of the above picture ...
And because:
She brings out the best in Rob as also evidenced in the above picture ...
And because:
She not only looks good, but she always tries to make others feel good (she does it as a nurse, but has been doing it ever since we have known her)
And because:
She is full of compassion for others
And because:
She is always happy and enjoys a good laugh
And because:
She is always feminine, but always ready to pitch in and work a (like Rob)
And because:
She makes Bennions better - just like Wendy, and Amy, and Linda, and all of the great women of prior generations who make Bennions better.
May You have Love and Joy and Great Years to Come,
Hugs to you on your birthday,
Dad B.

The Happy Couple

David and Jocelyn announced their engagement this week. David picked her up at the Spokane Airport on Tuesday December 30th and proposed at Spokane Falls, a picturesque spot in central Spokane. They had a romantic dinner at the Palmwood Grill in the historic Davenport Hotel before returning to Wenatchee late that evening. We have loved having her with us for the past few days. This picture was taken today as they departed Spokane heading back to school. The unanimous vote is that she is adorable.

Greg on the Slide

The slides were super slick the other day. The best landing of the day was Greg's. He loved it, and I couldn't stop laughing.

Hockey Night

We went to see Wenatchee's hockey team last night. The Wenatchee Wild beat the Fairbanks team 3-2 on a late third period goal. During the course of the game, there were two fistfights. One seemed a bit contrived, but the second seemed legit. The kids had a ton of questions about it. So did I. It was funny to think of the fighting in their minds and to try and make sense of it. Anyway, we had a great time in our front row seats at the Town Toyota Center!


The kids were surprised by the noise. It was reminiscent of the Wenatchee-Eastmont game we took Nathan to.

Joscelyn, David, and Greg watching the game.

I love this shot of the kids, but especially of Nathan. He looks so much older in this shot.

Sledding and Sleeping in Wenatchee

The family went sledding at Lincoln Park on a perfect day. There was a nice snow pack with about 1/2 inch the night before. The sun came out and warmed up the snow so it packed very well. I thought this photo was a nice view of the valley.


Part of the morning was spent in the castle-themed play area. Katie and Anna are below.

William and me hanging out.

This was William after a fun morning. He just crashed on the LazyBoy.

Christmas 2008

We had a great Christmas although we missed spending it with all of you! It's been fun catching up with most of you via Skype.

These are the boys' new PJs courtesy of Grandma and Grandpa Bennion. As soon as Will put them he shouted,"These look so cool!" We couldn't agree more. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

We made a traditional Christmas dinner. This is the flaeskesteg (pronounced fleskuh-sty). It is basically a pork roast with the skin still on. You rub in a lot of butter and salt and the skin bubbles and gets really crunchy. Mmmm. We also had red cabbage, caramelized potatoes, amazing gravy, boiled potatoes, veggies and a Danish rice pudding dessert.

Don defending himself from William's new sword.

Soren's Blessing Day

Some pictures from Soren's blessing day

Don with the friends who participated in the blessing. (L to R: Andrew Paulsen, Mats Lindberg, and our neighbor John Leit)

Amy with Yvonne Andersen who made the blanket and gave it to Amy at Amy's baby shower. AMAZING!

Happy Birthday, Grandad Dunlap

What a great day December 27th has always been for the Dunlaps. That's the day that our dad was born in 1927....we are so lucky to be the children and grandchildren of Bob Dunlap. The day was made more special 2 years ago when Burke Robert Bennion came into the world. So today we celebrate the 81st birthday of Dad/Grandad/Great Grandad Dunlap and the 2nd birthday of Burke....happy birthday to two of the most wonderful "boys" I know!

I love Dad because:
He taught me to work hard
To meet challenges head on
To believe in God
To see the good in people
To love baseball and all sports
To be honest
To live within my means (I'm still workin' on this one)
To do my best
To never give up
To question ideas
To love good books
To think hard
To enjoy the good thoughts of others
To stand up for what I believed in
To love America and freedom
To believe in ideals
He gave us a happy, sound and solid family life
He planned and carried out (with Mom) great vacations
He encouraged and rooted for me and made me feel I could do anything
He let me cry when I was hurt, but insisted I try again
He expected me to make good decisions and gave me the trust to do so
He supported me through college and gave me the freedom to give it my all
He is smart and wise
He is just an amazing Dad who has had the profoundest effect on my life
Happy Birthday, DAD!

Christmas Update from Beaverton Pt 3

This is Nathan playing Shaun White Snowboarding Road Trip. The video is complete with commentary from the game and screaming from William, and tips from Dad... but I couldn't resist posting just the same.

Christmas Update from Beaverton Pt 2

The Taylor's sent a Panini Grill. Last night was Turkey Bacon Paninis with Pesto Mayo! This morning was Grilled Paninis with Bacon, Eggs, and Cheddar Cheese! Not too shabby!


The was definitely a vehicular themed Christmas. Below is William and his new trike.

Grandma and Granddad Dunlap and Daddy and Mommy delivered the good with two Kettcars and a bike for Greg. The top photo is taken as the kids come in to see them for the first time. The second photo is of the vehicles themselves.

Christmas Update from Beaverton Pt 1

This was taken as the kids arrived downstairs to see the the gifts for the first time.


The annual lineup is a Taylor family tradition. Shortest to tallest (with a few behavioral exceptions).

True to both Bennion and Taylor traditions, we start with stockings.

Williams chief interest was in any present that someone else liked. This one happened to be his that Greg said he liked. William promptly grabbed and said, "Me! Me!"

Greg and Nate admiring Greg's Chariot Race and Coliseum.

May you find the same blessed rest

Merry Christmas to each of you. We love you all so dearly and pray that you may enjoy the peace and love that Our Savior brought to our world so long ago.

Merry Christmas to All. You wore him out!

All our love and prayers are with each of you as always, but especially at this time when we try to understand how good God is.